Systems and methods for mixed-use delivery of people and packages using autonomous vehicles and machines

Abstract

People and packages are delivered to and picked up from delivery locations by autonomous vehicles that also carry autonomous robots. When a package needs to be picked up or delivered at a particular location, an autonomous robot is deployed from the delivery vehicle and takes the package to the doorstep or other predetermined location or picks up the package from that location and brings it back to the delivery vehicle. After this pickup or delivery, the autonomous robot stows itself back in the delivery vehicle.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for delivering one or more items associated with one or more delivery locations, each delivery location associated with an address, the method comprising:
 providing an autonomous vehicle comprising: a deployment mechanism, and deployable autonomous delivery robot, wherein the autonomous delivery robot comprises legs and arms; 
 determining by an autonomous system, a delivery route for the autonomous vehicle based on the addresses of the delivery locations; 
 navigating by the autonomous system, the autonomous vehicle to a first address on the delivery route, the first address being associated with one or more items; 
 deploying the autonomous delivery robot by the deployment mechanism, wherein the autonomous delivery robot is configured for delivering the one or more items by:
 removing the one or more items associated with the first address from the autonomous vehicle by the autonomous delivery robot; 
 identifying by the autonomous system the delivery location; 
 carrying the one or more items to the delivery location, and placing the one or more items at the delivery location, wherein carrying and placing is by the arms of the autonomous delivery robot; 
 returning to the autonomous vehicle; and 
 stowing, by the deployment mechanism, the autonomous delivery robot onboard the autonomous vehicle. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating delivery location data to the autonomous delivery robot, the delivery location data comprising at least one of sensor data and stored data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising repeating the navigating, removing, delivering and returning steps until all items are delivered. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising navigating the autonomous vehicle to an idling location to await further instruction. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the autonomous delivery robot retrieving a package from a retrieval location at an address. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving one or more requests to pick up one or more additional items at one or more additional locations and determining whether the requests can be accommodated efficiently. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising revising the delivery route to incorporate picking up the one or more additional items. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deployment mechanism comprises: an assembly comprising:
 a base portion mounted to the autonomous vehicle; 
 one or more extendable members coupled to the base portion for receiving the legged autonomous delivery robot, the one or more extendable members horizontally movable between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 one or more of a sensor and a communication link disposed on the assembly for communicating with the legged autonomous delivery robot and the autonomous vehicle; and 
 at least one securement feature disposed on the one or more extendable members for releasably securing the legged autonomous delivery robot. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the autonomous delivery robot is a bi-pedal robot. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the bipedal robot is configured for walking. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein deploying the autonomous delivery robot further comprises:
 opening a lift gate of the autonomous vehicle; 
 extending an extendable member of a deployment mechanism, wherein the deployment mechanism releasably secures the autonomous delivery robot; 
 positioning the extendable members and the autonomous delivery robot outside of the autonomous vehicle, wherein the legs of the autonomous delivery robot extend and push against a ground surface to disengage from the extendable members, to deploy the autonomous delivery robot. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery locations comprise one or more of a doorstep of building and a predetermined delivery location. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery locations further comprise addresses for the pickup and dropoff of human travellers. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein addresses associated with the pickup and dropoff of human travellers are prioritized over the addresses associated with the delivery of items when determining the delivery route. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of deployable autonomous delivery robots are provided and are deployed simultaneously. 
     
     
       16. A method for autonomously picking up or delivering one or more items or passengers to waypoint destinations, each waypoint destination associated with an address, the method comprising:
 providing an autonomous vehicle comprising:
 a deployment mechanism, a deployable autonomous delivery robot comprising legs and arms configured for walking and carrying, a storage area, and a passenger section; 
 
 determining by an autonomous system, a route for the autonomous vehicle based on the addresses of the waypoint destinations; 
 navigating by the autonomous system, the autonomous vehicle to a first address on the route, the first address being associated with a first item or passenger pickup or dropoff; 
 allowing, by the autonomous vehicle, the passenger to board or exit the vehicle in response to determining the address is associated with a passenger; and 
 deploying the autonomous delivery robot by the deployment mechanism, and delivering or picking up the item from the waypoint destination in response to determining the address is associated with an item, wherein the delivering or picking up of the item comprises the autonomous delivery robot walking and carrying the item to or from the waypoint destination. 
 
     
     
       17. An autonomous system that delivers or picks up one or more packages from one or more delivery or pick-up locations, each location associated with a street address, with an autonomous vehicle having a deployable legged delivery robot disposed on a deployment mechanism, the system comprising:
 a processing module, a memory storage module, and a communication network; 
 the memory storage module being configured to receive and store a plurality of delivery data, the delivery data comprising one or more of delivery locations, addresses, identification of packages; and 
 the processing module in data communication with an electronic memory over the communication network, the processing module configured to: 
 determine a delivery route for the autonomous vehicle; 
 navigate the autonomous vehicle to a delivery destination on the delivery route; 
 send a signal to one or more of the legged delivery robot and the deployment mechanism to deploy from the autonomous vehicle if a routing delivery location is associated with the delivery or pickup of the one or more packages, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises an assembly comprising one or more of a sensor and a communication link disposed on the assembly and the communication link communicates the signal to one or more of the legged delivery robot and the autonomous vehicle; and 
 at least one securement feature disposed on one or more extendable members, wherein the securement feature releasably secures the legged delivery robot. 
 
     
     
       18. The autonomous system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensors are further configured to provide a local map and real-time information about obstacles that may be encountered by the legged delivery robot between the vehicle and the delivery location. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the deployable legged delivery robot further comprises arms configured for carrying and placing items for delivery. 
     
     
       20. A method for transporting an item from a delivery vehicle to an intended destination with an autonomous legged robot comprising:
 identifying by a autonomous system the item to be delivered; 
 deploying, by the autonomous system, the autonomous legged robot from the autonomous delivery vehicle; wherein deploying comprises:
 opening a lift gate of the autonomous delivery vehicle by the autonomous system; extending extendable members of a deployment mechanism by the autonomous system, wherein the deployment mechanism releasably secures the autonomous legged robot; 
 positioning, by the autonomous system, the extendable members and the autonomous legged robot outside of the autonomous delivery vehicle, wherein the legs of the autonomous legged robot extend and push against a ground surface to disengage from the extendable members, to deploy the autonomous legged robot; 
 determining, by the autonomous system, a route from the autonomous delivery vehicle to the intended destination; 
 picking up and carrying the item to the intended destination by the autonomous legged robot; and 
 placing the item at the intended Destination by the autonomous legged robot. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the autonomous legged robot further comprises a pair of arms configured for picking up, carrying and placing the item. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the autonomous legged robot further comprises a torso. 
     
     
       23. A method of delivering or picking up a payload at one or more locations, the payload comprising one or more items, the method comprising:
 Providing an autonomous vehicle for carrying the payload, the autonomous vehicle having a deployable autonomous delivery robot comprising legs and arms, stowed therein; 
 determining by an autonomous system a travel route for the autonomous vehicle based on the one or more locations; 
 navigating by the autonomous system, the autonomous vehicle to a first location on the delivery route, the first location being associated with a first payload; 
 deploying, by a deployment mechanism, the autonomous delivery robot; 
 delivering or picking up the first payload by the autonomous delivery robot; 
 recalculating by the autonomous system, the travel route based on one or more of new payload, new request, and traffic conditions; and 
 navigating by the autonomous system, the autonomous vehicle to a next location on the travel route. 
 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein delivering or picking up the first payload comprises deploying the autonomous delivery robot from the autonomous vehicle and one or more of carrying the payload to a predetermined spot at the location and retrieving the payload from the predetermined spot at the location. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising stowing the autonomous delivery robot on the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the autonomous delivery robot is configured for walking and carrying for delivering and picking up the payload.